Use Ramadan to kick smoking habit

Use Ramadan to kick smoking habit

Shaikh Mohd Saifuddeen Shaikh Mohd Salleh Fellow Kanan Institut Kefahaman Islam Malaysia

RECENTLY, a newspaper reported that more women had caught the smoking bug. It suggested that these women smoked as the habit was considered "trendy and fashionable". I had a long chat on smoking with a nurse at a local hospital. She said more young people today were risking their health picking up the smoking habit. "Just take a walk along the fashionable districts of Kuala Lumpur, and you'll see what I mean," she sighed. A colleague, meanwhile, related an experience at a posh restaurant in Shah Alam. After his family was seated for a meal, two couples in their late teens or early 20s came in. The youths sat next to his table. One of the girls lit up a cigarette. Upon noticing this, he asked the girl not to smoke as it was a no-smoking restaurant. Out of defiance, the girl who was sitting at his back started to tap cigarette ash on his hair, much to the amusement of her friends. This got him angry, and he made his feelings known to the youths, in particular to the smoking girl. The youths left the restaurant. This episode is probably nothing new. Some smokers have no respect for the wellbeing of the majority. They simply light up wherever and whenever they want, regardless if it is designated no-smoking area. Some restaurants put up a no-smoking sign for the sake of putting it up. The owners would not dream of stopping patrons from smoking for fear of losing their patronage. What is even more intriguing is that there is an ashtray on every table, despite the nosmoking signs, all in the name of profit. As a result, we can see most of these restaurants are polluted with smoke. Some smokers argue that it is their right to smoke. No one denies that. However, smokers should be more considerate of the majority. It is one thing to destroy one's own lungs by smoking. It is another thing altogether if the smoke pollutes the air others breathe, ruining other people's lungs. This "secondary smoke" is as dangerous as being a smoker. The nurse friend related a story of how a heavy smoker had caused his non-smoking wife to suffer lung cancer. Is it worth the short-lived satisfaction of smoking to see loved ones suffer for your bad habit? More often than not, the effects of smoking are only more apparent after a long period of time. Most smokers find it "unnecessary" to quit until it is all too late, when the damage has been done. With the plethora of information available, one would think everyone knows the danger and risks of smoking. And some studies have shown that the habit is hard to kill. Instead, amazingly, smoking in the 21st century is regarded a trendy fashion, one to be followed lest one is left out by one's peers. There are smokers who are aware of the dangers. As many as 85 per cent have the intention to quit the habit. Nonetheless, many have failed despite trying many times. In an effort to ensure that smokers quit the habit for good, the Ministry of Health along with the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (Ikim), Islamic Development Depart-ment (Jakim), the National Drug Centre and several other NGOs have come together to launch a campaign. It is estimated that there are over one million Muslim smokers in the country. With the theme "New Breath Beginning Ramadan", the campaign to be officiated today at Ikim is intended for Muslim smokers to use the coming month of Ramadan as a platform to stop smoking, not just during the day, but for good. Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims. This is the month in which God sent down the holy book, Quran, as a guide for mankind. This is also the month in which Muslims are instructed to fast throughout the days of Ramadan, but Ramadan is not just about not eating and not drinking. Ramadan is a madrasah for Muslims to be tested with many challenges and, at the same time, to inculcate good values and virtues such as perseverance, patience, trustworthiness and the like. That is why we note during Ramadan, routine activities in the office and at home differ from other months. In essence, Ramadan provides a conducive environment for smokers to quit. It is interesting to note that Muslim smokers do not have much of a problem ab-staining from smoking during the day in the month of Ramadan. In fact, a survey finds 95 per cent of Muslim smokers saying that it is easy. The point to be driven home during the "New Breath Beginning Ramadan" campaign is to encourage smokers not to smoke even during the nights. If this can be done throughout Ramadan, the smoking habit could indeed be given up. The reason why smokers find it hard to quit smoking is nicotine dependence. Studies have shown it poses the same addiction problems as heroin and cocaine. If a smoker is deprived of a cigarette for two to four hours, then he will experience withdrawal symptoms. However, it is fascinating to note that even the heaviest of smokers can stop smoking for nearly 12 hours during Ramadan without withdrawal symptoms. This has yet to be explained by science. Usually a smoker's brain sends instructions for the nicotine supply to be replenished after a few hours. However, this does not happen in Ramadan. To stop smoking for good, one must have the motivation, dedication and willpower to overcome the addiction to nicotine. Ramadan provides these factors to smokers to quit smoking. The Prophet of Islam said in one hadith with reference to the month of Ramadan: "Ramadan is a month of patience, and the reward for patience is paradise." Taking this hadith as a motivation, smokers should be able to observe patience in Ramadan by not smoking. After all, fasting is a test of individual willpower. If, during Ramadan, a smoker is able to build up willpower and strength to refrain from smoking, this should be extended after the holy month. It should not stop as soon as Ramadan ends. Smoking, as we are all aware, is an unhealthy habit. Not only are we putting our own lives at risk, we are also risking the health of our family members and loved ones. Quit smoking for good, and use the coming month of Ramadan as an effective platform to do so.